Wade Barrett led the Nexus out to the ring for his match against John Cena the next night on RAW. No longer was he holding Stars hand. No longer was she smiling and confident. She hung back with Justin Gabriel and Heath Slater, who patted her back and tried to cheer her up a bit.

Wade hadn't yelled at her. He had simply stated that he was disappointed that once again she had decided to get involved in a fight that had nothing to do with her, and that he had hoped she had learned her lesson from last time.

"I'm sorry Wade. I just wanted to help." She whispered as she sat on her bed.

"The road to hell is paved with good intentions, ain't it?" Wade shook his head at her. "Go to bed Star."

"Yes Wade." Star had crawled under the covers of her own bed for the first time in months.

Wade walked around the ring, and got onto the announce table.

"Last time Wade was on a table it didn't end well." Star whispered to Justin and Heath, who tried not to giggle.

"There's been a slight change of plans, Cena." Wade smirked his infuriating grin. "I know you wanna face me tonight, but I also heard you say that you wanna pick apart the Nexus one-by-one."

John Cena stood in the ring, his temper rising. Star had seen this before, Wade slowly getting under the skin of an opponent.

"Well, if you're a man of your word, and I'll be honest, I strongly suspect that you're not," Wade continued to twist the knife. "You'll be happy to take these lot on in a Gauntlet Match."

John looked furious.

"Of course, we do have one alternative, where we all get in the ring as a collective and kick your teeth down the back of your throat." Wade shrugged. John looked ropeable, but he had no choice. He was taking on the Gauntlet Match.

"Star, you're sitting this one out. Here, now." Wade said as Heath got ready to face John. Stars face fell, and she trudged down to the announcers table where Wade stood. Putting the microphone away, he glared at the reproachful Star. "Don't you bloody give me that look, you know what you did." He told her.

Star flopped down in front of the announce table. "You're gonna bloody sulk now aren't you?" Wade snapped.

Who's sulking? Not her.

Shut UP.

Cutting off your own nose despite your face. You missed her last night didn't you?

SHUT. UP.

Wade sighed as he watched Heath wear John down. He'd give her a jar of honey later and everything would be okay again.

Sure. Just fob her off with some treats, that's the ticket.

What else am I supposed to do?

Oh, I don't know, get rid of this stupid idea that she's your slave and tell her that you -,

I SAVED her bloody life! She is a tool, nothing else.

Oh really? Then why did you stop Randy from hitting her with an RKO? Why did you give up your shot at the title for her?

Wade let his eyes wander down to where Star was fiddling with the hem of her shirt. This was getting ridiculous.

I'll concede that she's not my slave, she's my friend.

Then why are you treating her like a disobedient dog?

Wade growled at himself. "Star, up here, now." He commanded. Star obediently got up and stood on the table next to him, narrowly missing standing on Michael Coles fingers.

"HEY!" He cried. Star ignored him.

Wade frowned as Heath got pinned. David Otunga went next. Wade relaxed slightly, before putting a hand on Stars shoulder.

You can't even apologize. You weak bastard. Weeks of treating her like a princess and she makes one well-meaning error and you completely 180 on her.

Wade grimaced at himself, before pulling Star into his side and draping his arm over her. She put her hand on his back as they watched David take on John.

Star could feel her guardian getting more and more irate as the members of the Nexus fell. Should've let me take on Cena, I could have finished him. She thought as John glared at Wade before hitting the Five-Knuckle Shuffle on Justin. Oh if I only I were allowed to use Puppet Eyes!

"No." Wade squeezed her shoulder.

How DOES he know?! Star thought, annoyed.

The defeated members of the Nexus rushed into the ring. Wade grabbed a chair and went to join them, but John rushed him, grabbing the chair.

This is my chance to make up for last night! Star thought. She weaved the hand signs for Paralysis Slaps and rolled into the ring.

SNAP!

Star only managed to hit one Slap, and it connected with the chair, completely throwing her off and hurting her hand. John glared at her, chair in hand.

Star backed away slowly, but John was too angry now to care who he hit.

CRACK!

The chair never connected with Star. Instead, it connected with the back of Wade Barrett!

He shoved her angrily out of the ring, copping another shot to the head from the chair for his trouble. He rolled out of the ring, escaping further punishment.

So much for that. Star slipped behind Justin and Heath. Heath put a comforting arm around her. Oh am I in trouble when we get backstage...

"You tried." Justin said.

"Wade's gonna be so mad at me." Star was shaking. Sure enough, Wade shot her a nasty glare as the Nexus retreated back to the stage.

"Way I see it, you owe me. Right now, John Cena versus Wade Barrett – we end it, now." John death-stared Wade, making Star angry.

Wade breathed in through his nose, out through his mouth. Calm down. One thing at a time. First John, then Star.

He smirked, a nasty, evil idea forming in his mind.

"Y'know, that's quite the offer Cena. But to be perfectly honest, I don't think I have anything to gain from laying you to Waste once more." He taunted.

Star watched as Wade challenged John to a match at Hell in a Cell. The stipulation being that if Wade won, John Cena would join the Nexus. If John won...well, rigging bareknuckle fights back in Europe wasn't the worst thing in the world. Star almost wouldn't have minded going back to those days, when it was just her and Wade against the world.

The Nexus headed back to their locker room, all of them abuzz. Could Wade do it? Could Wade defeat John Cena and make the leader of the Cenation join the Nexus? Or did he just doom all of their careers on a whim?

"Star. Here. Now." Wade motioned for Star to follow him as the other members of the Nexus headed into the locker room. Star gulped; now she was in trouble.

"Remind me, what did I say to you before the match?" Wade folded his arms, glaring at her.

Star debated whether or not it was worth being a smart-alec. Probably not.

"I was sitting the match out." Star mumbled, looked at her feet.

"Hmmm?" Wade leaned forward slightly. "Can't hear you if you don't look at me."

"You said I was sitting the match out." Star raised her head, still unable to look him in the eye.

"So tell me why I now have the mother of all headaches courtesy of a chair shot from our dear friend Mister Cena?" Wade continued to stare her down. "Haven't you caused me enough grief in the past 24 hours?"

"I'm sorry Wade." Star started fiddling with the hem of her shirt.

"I didn't ask for an apology, I asked for an explaination." Wade said. "And stop playing with your shirt, I'm talking to you."

I wanted to make things right. Star thought. I wanted to show you how much I love you. How much I'd give for you. You mean the world to me Wade Barrett, you ARE my world. I'd do anything for you, anything at all! I just want you to love me too!

She couldn't muster the courage to say any of this though. Instead, she started biting at her lip.

"Well?" Wade pushed.

I thought she was your friend?

I'm still her guardian!

She's not a minor, she's old enough to tell you to shove it.

She still needs my protection!

And that makes it okay to belittle her and yell at her?

I've done it for years.

It was fine back when she was younger and didn't know better, but she's easily over the age of 21 now and would probably do a lot better without YOU.

Shut up.

"If you keep disobeying me Star, how can I trust you? You're supposed to be my right hand. If you don't listen to me, if you keep letting me down, how can I expect to keep the rest of those idiots in line?" Wade said calmly.

You manipulative berk!

Shut UP.

"I'm really sorry Wade, I promise I'll be good." Stars eyes began to well up with tears, which she tried to blink away. Don't you start crying, that'll really go down well. She scolded herself.

Well done you ass, you've upset her.

Well she shouldn't have gotten involved after I told her not to!

Wade sighed.

"How's your hand?" Wade picked up the hand that had delivered Paralysis Slaps to the unforgiving steel. Star flinched, the hand aching badly.

"You'll be okay. Nothing broken." Wade patted her shoulder. "You're pretty lucky really, aren't you Lucky?"

Star shot him a filthy look. Wade smiled.

"Okay, that WAS pretty bad on my part." He chuckled. "C'mon, let's go. We've got plans to make."

Star didn't want to follow him. She wanted to rebel, to tell Wade where to shove his plans, but she was still too scared that he would leave her. She loved him, she would have done anything for him, but her heart was hurting.

Why won't you love me Wade? She thought sadly, one tear falling down her cheek as she trudged behind her hero.

Why won't you love me?

"Now, let me make myself abundantly clear." Wade Barrett stood in front of the Nexus in their locker room at Hell in a Cell. "You are ALL to stay in this locker room until the match is over. ALL of you." He gave Star a Look, which made her flinch. "I can deal with Cena by myself, no problem. I don't want to risk getting disqualified and losing all of our jobs."

"Yes Wade." The group chorused.

"Good." Wade stretched. "If they give you any grief Lucky, slap 'em."

"Yes Wade." Star said stonily. Wade rolled his eyes. Let her sulk if she wanted to.

Star watched as Wade left to go and battle John Cena for their careers. She then shut the door and turned on the monitor so that they could see their leader fight.

The match started, and David Otunga started getting edgy. He paced the locker room, looking at the monitor and shaking his head.

"Down Otunga, orders are to stay here." Star warned him.

"Of course, he put YOU in charge didn't he?" David snapped at her.

"I'm his right hand, his best friend." Star told him.

"Wake up Star! Wade's just using you for your eyes, that's all he's doing!" David cried. "You're nothing more than his little pet!"

Star glared at him. "That's not true!"

Oh, it's true. You've known it ever since you first met him.

"Oh, you really believe he has your best interests at heart?" David continued. "He only treats you well when you obey him, any mistakes and he treats you like dirt!"

"You don't know anything!" Star defended her beloved Wade.

Oh, he does. When's the last time you slept next to him? When's the last time he gave you a proper hug? A compliment?

"I'm going out there. I can't afford to let him screw this up." David prepared to leave the room.

"STAY." Star clapped her hands together, ready to weave the hand signs.

"That's right, do what Wade says. He might throw you a bone if you be good." David sneered.

"Man, lay off on her." Heath Slater stood up. "Wade might mistreat her, but she's still in charge here."

"Yeah, well, she should learn to think for herself instead of letting him dictate her every move!" David fired back.

"I can think for myself!" Star snapped.

"Yeah, and look what happens when you do. Wade punishes you and you go back into your shell, scared." Michael Tarver told her. "He's bad for you kid, wake up."

Star bit her lip. She didn't want to admit it, but she had a feeling that Michael and David were right.

"You deserve better." Michael added.

Star looked away.

I still love him.

"We stay here." She sat down.

"C'mon Star, if he yells at you, I'll take the fall. I'll say that I called you a certain word and while you were distracted we all snuck out." David begged.

Star sighed.

"Let's go." She said.

David Otunga grinned.

The five members of the Nexus ran out to the ring. Taking advantage of the situation, Wade slammed Cena in the back of the head.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Wade roared furiously. "I SAID STAY BACK!"

David tried to explain, while Star hid behind Justin Gabriel. Oh was she ever in trouble when Wade got a hold of her!

"WHO'S IN CHARGE HERE, HUH?!" Wade continued his tirade. "You lot need to trust me!"

He then continued to pound away at John, throwing him into the barricade. The match continued.

"C'mon you lot, let's go." Star tried to make the Nexus leave. They all ignored her, watching Wade work on John.

"Guys, C'MON!" Star begged. Wade was getting agitated, and that usually meant he started making mistakes.

The match went on, and Wade started to hit his strides. Then John started fighting back.

"C'mon." David said, and the Nexus surrounded the ring.

"Oh lordy." Star groaned. "RAT, TIGER, MONKEY, DRAGON, SNAKE!"

"STAR NO!" Michael begged. Star went after David and Michael with Infinite Paralysis, ending their evenings. When she got to Justin and Heath, she grimaced.

"I don't want to hurt you guys. So I suggest you take Tarver and Otunga and get out of my sight." Star warned them.

"Right." Justin nodded to Heath, looking scared. They took their paralysed team mates and left the ring.

John nodded to Star. He had a lot more respect for her now.

Star stood on the ramp, watching the match, making sure the Nexus didn't come back. Wade looked at her, nodding his respect too, before continuing the fight.

The momentum shifted backwards and forwards. Stars breath hitched in her throat so many times. They made it to the top rope, they grappled on the mat, it was a pure fight to the death.

"C'mon Wade." Star whispered. "You're my hero."

Then Wade hit the Wastelands! Star couldn't believe it when John kicked out! What did Wade have to do?!

Then John hit the Attitude Adjustment! Star nearly died before Wade kicked out! Could John Cena put Wade down?!

Star slammed the apron, trying to get Wade back up. Then John hit the STF!

Wade screamed in pain. Star panicked.

"WADE!" She cried. Wade was holding on, but he was in so much pain. Her Wade was in agony. She had to help him!

Wade struggled to make it to the bottom rope. He could do this! He could...he could...no...NO!

"END THE MATCH! I QUIT! END THE MATCH PLEASE!" He screamed, slamming the mat as hard as he could. Blood streamed from the eyes of Star, the glowing green eyes of Puppet Eyes!

"END THE MATCH PLEASE! LUCKY NO! NO! PLEASE!" Wade continued to tap as hard as he could. Why wouldn't the referee end the match?! Wasn't the stipulation that the Nexus couldn't get involved? He had to stop Star, he had to stop the blood, he had to stop her destroying her eyes!

John Cena turned to the referee, releasing the submission move. The referees eyes were glowing bright green. He was under the spell of Puppet Eyes. John looked at Wade, who was sobbing.

Star dropped the Puppet Eyes, unable to hold it any longer. Even if she wasn't blinded, she wouldn't have been able to see for how much blood was in her eyes. The pain was unbearable. It was worth it though, because Wade was safe.

Then a fan tried to jump into the ring. While the referee was distracted, another fan clobbered John with a pipe. Taking advantage, Wade Barrett pinned John Cena, one, two, three.

Star slumped to the ground as the Nexus rushed back to celebrate with their leader. Wade rolled out of the ring and grabbed the nearest EMT, pointing to Star. The EMT took Star away to have her eyes checked, while the rest of the Nexus went back to the locker room.

John was stunned. In disbelief. He stumbled out of the ring and somehow made his way backstage.

He was now a part of the Nexus. He'd lost. Wade had won.

"That was bullshit!" Randy Orton walked over, trying to cheer Cena up. "Everyone knows that you won, you made Barrett tap out!"

John looked at Randy. He let out a sigh and shook his head.

"No Randy. I didn't make Wade Barrett tap out." He said.

"Yes you did!" Randy insisted.

"No Randy. I didn't make him tap out."

John sighed again. He couldn't believe that he lost, but he also had a hard time believing what he'd seen.

"We all saw him tapping John." Randy put a hand on his friends back.

"Yeah, he tapped, but it wasn't me." John looked at Randy. Randy was his friend, his rival, his lover, his enemy. John swore one day they'd end up in bed together drunk, but tonight...tonight he needed Randy to understand what had happened. "I didn't make Wade Barrett tap out."

"Star made Wade Barrett tap out."


Uh-oh, now the fat's really in the fire! Star used Puppet Eyes, the one power that Wade expressly and completely forbade her to EVER use! How much trouble is young Star in now?

I hope you're all enjoying this story!